Hole Nobody's Daughter (Mercury)
During Samantha, the best song on Hole's fourth album, Courtney Love's vocals increase in intensity before she bursts into a expletive-filled chorus that has all the catchiness of a cheerleader's chant. At this moment she sounds vital, still the angry rock and roll siren calling it like she sees it.
Unfortunately, there aren't enough of those highlights on this long-delayed release. Though better than the 2004 Celebrity Skin, this is a case of too many songwriters in the study. Love has relied on 4 Non Blondes songwriter Linda Perry, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and more for a collection of songs that sounds nostalgic and forced, often at the same time.
The album's surprising saving grace is Love's vocals, which are heading down the smoky, well travelled Marianne Faithful highway with a pitstop in her idol Stevie Nicks' raspy neighbourhood.
